Building structure



June 14, 1955 A, w. BAILEY 2,710,430

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 25, 1950 IN V EN TOR. AL O/VZO W54/AE) ATTOE/VEV) ited States Patent 2,710,430 Patented June 14, 1955 2,710,430 BUILDING STRUCTURE Alonzo W. Bailey, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 23, 1950, Serial No. 186,463

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) panel which may be framed at the mill in conformity it.

with the architectural details of the design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corner structure embodying a plurality of studs arranged to form a tubular column and support the wall panels in any desired angular relation to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Wall panel which is adapted for use in either a single or multi-story building.

Another object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated hollow wall panel which is adapted for assembly in the condition in which it is received from the mill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow wall panel which may be filled with a thermal insulating material or a poured concrete mixture to form a composite wall structure.

Further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a building panel which is light in weight, sturdy of structure, economic of manufacture, and susceptible of assembly with ease and dispatch.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, will appear in the following-description, which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through the improved wall;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view taken at right angles to the structure illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a corner of a building embodying the improved design.

Referring first to Fig. l, the building chosen herein as illustrative of one of the environs within which the improved panel may be used, comprises a footing having structural steel beams 11 mounted thereon, floor joists 12 secured thereto, floor stringers 13 upon the upper face thereof; and walls W embodying the improved panel structure. The building further comprises wall plates 14 mounted on the upper ends of the panels, corrugated plates constituting girders 15 carried thereby, sheathing material forming a ceiling 16 on the lower face of the girders, and roof decking 17 on the opposed face thereof.

The wall plates may be of any conventional form or may be constructed from spaced parallel rails 18 having flanges thereon defining channels adapted for telescopic engagement with the wall members W. The inner floor stringers 13 are notched adjacent their upper ends for the reception of the inner plate 20. The plates 14 form the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 125,539, filed November 4, 1949, entitled Wall Construction.

The improved panel illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises a pair of rectangular plywood or metallic plates 20 retained in spaced relation by studs nailed and glued to the inner faces thereof. The stud 21 on one side of the panel is formed with a tapered mortise 22 in the outer face thereof and the adjacent stud 23 is formed with a tenon 24 of complementary configuration. If desired, both of the studs in adjacent panels may be mortised and a tapered strip or key 24a used in substitution of the tenon. Approximately one-half of the body of the stud 21 protrudes beyond the marginal edge of each plate 20, while the stud 23 is inset topermit the edges of the plates to overlie the side wall of the stud 21 in a contiguous panel. When the panels are mounted in a wall, the edges of the plates 20 are disposed to provide an expansion joint 25 which may be pointed with a suitable caulking material after the erection of the building. The expansion joint is disposed in oifset relation with the seam of the mortise and tenon, hence should the lumber shrink or the panels flex or shift as the building settles, the wall joints will remain sound and water-tight.

The corners are framed with studs 26 of rectangular transverse section which are inset from the edge of the outer plates 20 and flush with the edges of the inner plates. An angle iron 27 constituting a column may be secured to the plates 20 if the character of the building necessitates such reinforcement and angle irons 27a are secured to the inner stringers 13 for the retention of the panel units. The ends of the outer plates are supported by scarfed struts 28 disposed in normal relation to each other and to the end studs 26 in the respective corner panels. One of the struts is formed with a shonlder 29 adjacent the mitered end thereof, and the inner face of the mating strut is milled to form a ledge or seat therefor. The ledge and shoulder are substantially one-half the thickness of the respective struts and the timbers are preferably nailed together through the mitered portions thereof during the erection of the wall. The corner of the structure is faced with cover plates 30, one member of which is disposed in abutting relation with the overhanging edge of the other. It will be recognized that the mitered portions of the struts 28 and the parts associated therewith may be modified to form a corner of any desired angle.

The panels are reinforced by plain studs 31 disposed in the center of the plates 20 and secured thereto in the same manner as the milled studs 21 and 23. The upper ends of the studs are notched for the reception of headers 32 which are secured to both the studs and plates 20. The lower ends of the panels are secured to the floor plates, and windows, doors, and similar openings are framed in the panels in a like manner.

The floor joist 12 and roof girders 15, as illustrated, are formed from rolled sheet metal plates, the troughs in the upper faces of the joist being preferably filled with concrete 35 (Fig. 2) during the construction of the building. In certain types of buildings, Wooden floor joists and rafters may be used instead of the steel plates and girders and it is to be understood that such construction is contemplated as falling within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

The improved panels may be fabricated at the mill with door and window frames therein, including the trim therefor, and openings for heating, lighting, and ventilating conduits may be provided in the ,wall panels and studs. Certain of the plumbing, wiring, and other fittings may also be installed in the voids in hollow walls or partitions during the fabrication of the panel units at the mill,

From the foregoing it will be recognized that the panel structure will facilitate the erection of a building at a relatively low labor cost; that the building will be sturdy, rigid, and durable; that the heat loss will be minimized; and that the panel framing material will accommodate the assembly of the walls in a more efficacious manner than has been possible heretofore.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. A building structure embodying a plurality of hollow panel units and supporting members therefor, each unit comprising a pair of spaced plates, studs intermediate said plates adjacent the vertical edges thereof, a mortise and tenon connection in the studs of adjacent panel units, headers inset in said studs adjacent the top thereof and below the end portions of the plates, wall plates defining channels telescopically engaged with the top of said panel units, horizontal stringers intermediate the lower ends of said studs, the inner stringer of each panel unit having a notch therein constituting a seat for the contiguous inner plate, and angle irons affixed to said inner stringer with the outer face thereof in the plane of the outer face of said inner plate.

2. A building structure embodying a plurality of hollow panel units and wall plates for the retention thereof, each unit comprising a pair of spaced plates, studs intermediate said plates adjacent the vertical edges thereof, a mortise and tenon connection in the studs of adjacent panel units, headers inset in said studs adjacent the top thereof and below the end portions of the plates, said wall plates defining channels telescopically engaged with the top of said panel units, stringers afiixed to the lower ends of said studs, and out-turned angle irons affixed to said stringers for the retention of said panel units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,814 Le Gall Nov. 15, 1932 2,129,441 Otto Sept. 6, 1938 2,255,315 Hamilton Sept. 9, 1941 2,280,687 Connelly Apr. 21, 1942 2,288,104 Pasquier June 30, 1942 2,458,074 Hill Jan. 4, 1949 2,512,029 Mankki June 20, 1950 2,621,378 Wilson Dec. 16, 1952 Inlet; 

